IDNR attempts to revitalize Mermet Lake
By MVP Outdoors, Special to the Pekin Times (03/24/08)

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has announced it will conduct a
revitalization project this spring at Mermet Lake. The project is intended to improve fishing
opportunities at the Massac County site.

Situated in the 3,074-acre Mermet Lake Conservation Area north of Metropolis, Mermet Lake has been one of the state’s natural resource gems since it was first built nearly 50 years ago. While the lake attracts thousands of waterfowl annually and has been one of the best fishing destinations in southern Illinois, an invasion of an exotic aquatic plant called curlyleaf pondweed has become a significant problem.

Curlyleaf pondweed first colonized Mermet Lake in 1999, and by 2002 the plant covered nearly the entire body of water, reducing fishing access. Since 2002, the presence of curlyleaf pondweed in Mermet has been responsible for oxygen-related fish kills which have
occurred during four of the last five summers, significantly impacting sport fish populations.

“Previous attempts to control this plant with herbicides have been unsuccessful, but we are hopeful that the 2008 season will be different,” said IDNR District Fisheries Biologist Chris Bickers. “A new herbicide treatment strategy, made possible by federal grant funding administered by the IDNR Aquatic Nuisance Species Program, is being applied to Mermet this spring while the water level is low. We hope this treatment provides control of curlyleaf
pondweed while allowing native vegetation the opportunity to re-colonize the lake.”

Curlyleaf Pondweed

Archery Deer Hunt slated to return to Piatt County Unit of Weldon Springs
Special hunt for Illinois residents only

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will again this fall conduct an archery deer hunting program at the Weldon Springs-Piatt County Unit. The unit will be open for hunting
during 12 one-week periods from October 4, 2008 through January 11, 2009. The unit will be closed to archery hunting during the weeks of firearm deer season (November 17-23 and December 1-7). This special hunt will only be available to current Illinois residents. All statewide rules and regulations will apply unless stated otherwise. (SPECIAL DEER HUNT IS FOR THE PIATT COUNTY UNIT ONLY)

Hunting periods will be filled through a mail-in drawing. Applications are available at Weldon
Springs State Park, Clinton Lake/Mascoutin State Recreation Area, and the IDNR Region 3 office in Clinton. Applications must be received at the Weldon Springs State Park office by close of business May 31, 2008 to be eligible for the drawing. Successful applicants only will be notified by mail by August 1, 2008.

All hunters will be required to show proof of a current hunting license, state-issued archery deer permit, and the site-issued permit. Hunters will receive a free windshield card which must be displayed in their vehicle windshield when hunting the site. Site permits must be returned to Weldon Springs State Park by February 15, 2009. Failure to return the permit will result in a loss of hunting privileges for the next year.

Archery deer hunters will be required to harvest an antlerless deer before harvesting a buck. Hunters may take a second doe if they so choose and have the second permit for it.

Anyone participating in the special hunt that violates any of the applicable rules or regulations will forfeit their right to participate in the hunt for the rest of the program year. Permit holders may leave in place their deer stands for the week they are drawn, but may not put them up prior to their drawn week. No nails or screws may be placed in trees. Only deer may be harvested on the Weldon Springs-Piatt County Unit as there is no fall archery turkey hunting allowed at the unit.

For more information, contact Weldon Springs State Park at 217-935-2644.